Sacked NIMASA staff seeks intervention of Human Right Commission

About 16 staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who was sacked by Raymond Temisan Omatseye, former director general of the agency, has petitioned the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) seeking the commission’s intervention in ensuring their reinstatement.

In a letter signed by Rapheal Omojo on behalf of the sacked workers, the affected persons accused Omatseye of vindictiveness and nepotism. The letter, dated August 10, 2015, addressed to Ben Angwe, executive secretary of NHRC, with the title “INJUSTICE DONE ON SIXTEEN (16) OF US IN A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PARASTATAL- NIMASA” says the petition is aimed at acquainting the commission with the case.

According to the letter the employment of the initial 22 persons was authorised in 2009, during a recruitment exercise conducted at the time of Ade Dosunmu as DG of NIMASA. However, the problem started when Omatseye, a new DG was appointed to replace Dosunmu.

“The recruitment exercise was free, thorough and fair and it cut across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. It is noteworthy to say that most of us whose appointment were terminated, resigned from our previous places of work to join NIMASA.

“To our surprise, the appointment of 22 of us was terminated without any reason or payment of one month in lieu of notice, later six of us was recalled at different times. This injustice has paralyzed the life of affected families in the past six years,” the letter stated.

The letter further stated that the workers effort to seek redress, met brick wall resulting to their petitioning the commission to intervene.  “Please look into our case and ensure our rights are rightfully returned and compensated for our ordeal so far,” they stated.

The NHRC which has acknowledged receipt of the petition said it has commenced investigation into the matter.

In a letter dated October 26, 2015 and signed by Rabi A. Anwar, on behalf of the NHRC executive secretary, the commission asked the accused agency, NIMASA to explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged wrongful termination of aggrieved workers’ employment.

Findings show that the human rights body also sent a reminder to NIMASA on May 13, 2016 but NIMASA is yet to respond to both letters.